Josephson junction array type I-V characteristics of quench-condensed ultra thin films of Bi

In this communication we report studies of d.c current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of ultra thin films of Bi, quench condensed on single crystal sapphire substrates at T = 15K. The hysteretic I-V characteristics are explained using a resistively and capacitively shunted junction (RCSJ) model of Josephson junction arrays. The Josephson coupling energy($E_J$) and the charging energy($E_c$) are calculated for different thickness($d$) values. A low resistance state is found in the low current regime below the critical current, $I_c$. This resistance $R_0$ is found to have a minimum at a particular thickness ($d_c$) value. Reflection High Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) studies are done on these films. A distinct appearance of a diffuse ring near $d_c$ is observed in the diffraction images, consistent with the recent STM studies(Ekinci and Valles, PRL {\bf 82}(1999) 1518). These films show an irreversible annealing when temperature is increased. The annealing temperature ($T_a$) also has a maximum at the same thickness. Althoguh the R$_s$ vs T of quench condensed Bi films suggest that the films are uniform, our results indicate that even in thick films, the order parameter is not fully developed over the complete area of the film. These results are discussed qualitatively.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Brand Equity, Customer Satisfaction and Brand Loyalty

This study aims to investigate the mediating effects of consumer satisfaction on the relationship between consumer-based brand equity and brand loyalty in the hotel and restaurant industry. Based on a sample of 378 customers and using structural equation modelling approach, the five dimensions of brand equity—physical quality, staff behaviour, ideal self-congruence, brand identification and lifestyle-congruence—are found to have positive effects on consumer satisfaction. The findings of the study suggest that consumer satisfaction partially mediates the effects of staff behaviour, ideal self-congruence and brand identification on brand loyalty. The effects of physical quality and lifestyle-congruence on brand loyalty are fully mediated by consumer satisfaction

Local differences of the position of the mental foramen

The mental foramen has been reported to vary in position in different ethnic groups. Repeated failures during injections and operative procedures involving the mental foramen suggest the presence of local differences in a given population. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible local differences of the mental foramen in Eastern Anatolian individuals in the Turkish population. The present investigation is based on the examination of 70 adult mandibles. The study consisted of three measurements, to include the relations of the mental foramen to the following: 1) the lower teeth; 2) the body of mandible; 3) the mandibular symphysis and posterior border of the ramus of the mandible. The most common position of the foramen was in line with the longitudinal axis of the second premolar tooth (relation IV), at the midpoint of the mandibular body height and at 1/3.5 of the distance from the mandibular symphysis to the posterior border of the ramus. Local differences of the mental foramen may occur in a population. Prior to surgery knowledge of the most common location of the foramen peculiar to a local population may enable effective mental block anaesthesia to be provided. (Folia Morphol 2008; 67: 32-35)

Relative Hypoglycemia in Diabetic Patients With Critical Illness

Objectives: Relative hypoglycemia is a decrease in glucose greater than or equal to 30% below prehospital admission levels (estimated by hemoglobin A1C) but not to absolute hypoglycemia levels. It is a recognized pathophysiologic phenomenon in ambulant poorly controlled diabetic patients but remains unexamined during critical illness. We examined the frequency, characteristics, and outcome associations of relative hypoglycemia in diabetic patients with critical illness. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: ICU of a tertiary hospital. Patients: One-thousand five-hundred ninety-two critically ill diabetic patients between January 2013 and December 2017. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: The median age of patients was 67 years (interquartile range, 60-75 yr). The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score was 53 (interquartile range, 40-68). Thirty-four percent of patients with diabetes experienced relative hypoglycemia (exposure) during their ICU admission. Such patients had higher glycemic lability, hemoglobin A1C levels, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores. The hazard ratio for 28-day mortality of diabetic patients, censored at hospital discharge, for patients with relative hypoglycemia was 1.9 (95% CI, 1.3-2.8) and was essentially unchanged after adjustment for episodes of absolute hypoglycemia. After an episode of relative hypoglycemia, the hazard ratio for subsequent absolute hypoglycemia in the ICU was 3.5 (95% CI, 2.3-5.3). Conclusions: In ICU patients with diabetes, relative hypoglycemia is common, increases with higher hemoglobin A1C levels, and is a modifiable risk factor for both mortality and subsequent absolute hypoglycemia. These findings provide the rationale for future interventional studies to explore new blood glucose management strategies and to substantiate the clinical relevance of relative hypoglycemia

q-Breathers and thermalization in acoustic chains with arbitrary nonlinearity index

Nonlinearity shapes lattice dynamics affecting vibrational spectrum, transport and thermalization phenomena. Beside breathers and solitons one finds the third fundamental class of nonlinear modes -- $q$-breathers -- periodic orbits in nonlinear lattices, exponentially localized in the reciprocal mode space. To date, the studies of $q$-breathers have been confined to the cubic and quartic nonlinearity in the interaction potential. In this paper we study the case of arbitrary nonlinearity index $\gamma$ in an acoustic chain. We uncover qualitative difference in the scaling of delocalization and stability thresholds of $q$-breathers with the system size: there exists a critical index $\gamma^*=6$, below which both thresholds (in nonlinearity strength) tend to zero, and diverge when above. We also demonstrate that this critical index value is decisive for the presence or absense of thermalization. For a generic interaction potential the mode space localized dynamics is determined only by the three lowest order nonlinear terms in the power series expansion.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Infrared Studies of the Onset of Conductivity in Ultra-Thin Pb Films

In this paper we report the first experimental measurement of the infrared conductivity of ultra-thin quenched-condensed Pb films. For dc sheet resistances such that $\omega \tau \ll 1$ the ac conductance increases with frequency but is in disagreement with the predictions of weak localization. We attribute this behavior to the effects of an inhomogeneous granular structure of these films, which is manifested at the very small probing scale of infrared measurements. Our data are consistent with predictions of two-dimensional percolation theory.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review Letter

Anomalous Hopping Exponents of Ultrathin Films of Metals

The temperature dependence of the resistance R(T) of ultrathin quench-condensed films of Ag, Bi, Pb and Pd has been investigated. In the most resistive films, R(T)=Roexp(To/T)^x, where x=0.75. Surprisingly, the exponent x was found to be constant for a wide range of Ro and To in all four materials, possibly implying a consistent underlying conduction mechanism. The results are discussed in terms of several different models of hopping conduction.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Dyadic Death Series from An Autopsy Center: Femicide-Suicides Cases

Objective:Dyadic death is a term generally used to describe cases in which the murderer committed suicide, usually after a murder, or cases where two people committed suicide together. In the cases that underwent autopsy in Muğla, between 2013 and 2021, the crime scene and dead examination reports were retrospectively analyzed, and those with dyadic deaths were evaluated and these cases were discussed. We believe that creating a database where dyadic deaths are recorded across the country, will shed light on understanding the dynamics of dyadic deaths.Methods:The crime scene analysis and dead examination reports of autopsies carried out between 2013-2021 in Muğla Forensic Medicine Branch Office were analyzed retrospectively.Results:In our case series, all 11 bilateral deaths were femicide-suicide and 9 of them used firearms for murder. In one of the cases, femicide occurred with a penetrating tool, and in the other case, it was caused by blunt head trauma.Conclusion:There is a partner relationship in all of the murders. Except for one case, all of those killed were women and all were spouses/partners or ex-partners. These data in our case series show that dyadic deaths are an indicator of the violence against women in our country